SUMMER~ 2 0 0 6 Kentucky The Newsletterof the Kentucky Organization of ProfessionalArchaeologists President's Comer DarleneApplegate TABLE OF CONTENTS This column concerns the formal recording of archaeological sites (i.e., documentation by means of state site form) and rec­ Presidents Comer ..... 1, 3 ognition of significant archaeological resources in Kentucky. Some Data Fearure Topic .•... 4,5 • Archaeological investigations have resulted in the formal recording of almost 22,000 sites across the state, an average Committee Reports ..... 5, 7 of one site per 1.8 sq mile. Current Research ..... 7 ,9 • Of the 22,000 recorded sites in Kentucky, 624 (less than 3%) are listed on the National Register ofHistoric Places. Position Openings ..•.• 9, 10 · • Of the 3,191 Kentucky properties listed on the NRHP online database, 182 ( 5. 7%) are archaeological sites and one KyOPA Business Meetings ..... 10,13 is the 442-site Red River Gorge Archaeological District. Some Issues News & Announcements ..... 13 The aforementioned percentages are lower than desired. Of course, the number of recorded archaeological sites in Ken­ Book Review ..... 14 tucky represents a small &action of the total sites that likely exist within the Commonwealth. Most as-of-yet-unrecorded National Register of Hisoric Places archaeological sites await discovery. On the other hand, some Listings for Kenrucky ...•. 15 sites have been investigated by archaeologists but not formally recorded with the Office of State Archaeology. It is the latter KyOPA Officers & Board Members •..•• 15 that cause special concern. We know about these sites. We have data about these sites. In the absence of filing state site forms, that data is not being efficiently shared with other archaeologists and cultural resource managers. While the NewsletterEditor: Kentucky archaeological site database will never be complete Tanya M. Peres since we will never discover all sites, we have the power to Deparanent of Anthropology & Sociology include sites that we do know about. Middle Tennessee State University I admit that I am guilty of not formally reporting all the BoxlO sites I have investigated. I visited a site rimming a sinkhole Murfreesboro, TN 37132 near Oakland that yielded a variety of historic items as well [email protected] as a Dalton Cluster point. I investigated two rockshelters in Edmonson County as part of a class project that involved Pagel Volume 13, No. 2 (Summer 2006), Kentucky Archaeology ---, documenting looted sites. My students and I have document­ tion may prevent some people from asking me to identify ed four historic graveyards in Butler and Simpson counties. items in their collections, but I suspect most will agree. I have not yet submitted state forms for any of these sites. Mia profiteor. The Preservation Action Committee ofKyOPA has been tasked with promoting nomination of eligible archaeologi­ The robusmess of our archaeological sites database has sig­ cal sites to the NRHP. The committee will assemble and nifi.cant implications because the information is important for disseminate a list of archaeological sires assessed as eligible a variety of analytical purposes. Most academic archaeology is but not yet listed on the Register. A recap of currently listed based on intersite comparisons. Contract archaeologists must archaeological sites is provided below. IfKyOPA members consider previously documented sites in developing work are interested, the committee can organize a workshop on scopes, estimating bids, and planning field methods. The fun­ how to prepare archaeological site nominations. damental way to share basic site information is not through Several state agencies provide assistance in NRHP nomina­ conference papers and publications but with state site forms. tions. The Kentucky Heritage Council can aid in the prepara­ But beyond this, site information is needed for cultural tion of significance statements for site nominations. The resource preservation and protection. This became alarm­ KHC has copies ofNRHP nominations, and Kentucky De­ ingly clear at a recent meeting of consulting parties for the partment of Transportation is partnering with the National proposed Eastern Kentucky Power Cooperative power line Park Service to digitize records of listed Kentucky properties project in western Kentucky. The line routing process for this to make them accessible online through the National Register project involved use of the Electric Power Research Institute Information System database. The Office of State Archaeol­ Overhead Electric Transmission Line Siting Methodology. ogy maintains state site forms, which include evaluations of GIS-based data on cultural resources, natural resources, site significance. and engineering requirements are entered into a database Lastly, next time you see me, ask me how many outstanding that identifies and ranks route corridors according to "costs:' state site forms I have completed since writing this column. Regarding cultural resources, one set of data entered into the siting program is properties eligible for listing or listed on the Resources National Register. The larger the number of eligible or listed properties within a particular corridor, the higher the'cost" Andrus, P.W. of the corridor. If this type of siting methodology becomes 1999 Guidelinesfor Identifying,Evaluating, and Registering commonplace, it behooves archaeologists not only to formally Americas HistoricBattlefields. National Register Bulletin record sites but to evaluate site significance and nominate eli­ No. 40. National Park Service, Washingron, D.C. gible resources. Such proactive measures could help to avoid Kentucky Heritage Council unnecessary impacts to important sites. 2006 NationalRegister of HistoricPlaces. Some Options http:/ I www.state.ky.us/ agencies/khc/ national_register.htm One way to increase the number of formally recorded sites Lee, A.J., and L.F. McClelland is to enlist the help of avocational archaeologists and college 1999 How to Completethe National RegisterMultiple students. KyOPA could train members of organizations PropertyDocumentation Form. National Register Bulletin such as the Falls of the Ohio Archaeological Society or the No. 168. National Park Service, Washingron, D.C. Central Ohio Valley Archaeological Society to formally record sites and prepare NRHP nominations. Faculty could Little, B., E.M. Siebert, J. Townsend, J.H. Sprinkle, Jr., make completion of a state site form a course requirement for and J. Knoerl undergraduate and graduate students, and advanced students 2000 Guidelinesfor Evaluatingand RegisteringArcheologi- might be required to write a NRHP nomination for an calProperties. National Register Bulletin No. 36. National archaeological site. In the fall I am supervising three under­ Park Service, Washington, D.C. graduate students in a directed study that will involve visiting National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places sites that I have learned about from the public but have not 2006 National Registerof HistoricPlaces. had an opportunity to investigate. The students will collect http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr data about the sites, inventory any privately held collections, and complete state site forms. Parker, P.L.,and T.F. King 1998 Guidelinesfor Evaluatingand DocumentingTradi- Like most archaeologists, I am ofi:en asked by the public to National Register Bulletin No. identify artifacts inherited from parents or collected on pri­ tionalCultural Properties. 38. vate property. In the future I am going to ask that, in return National Park Service, Washington, D.C. for my donated time, collection owners allow me to file state site forms based on information they provide. This precondi- Page2 Volume 13, No. 2 (Summer 2006), Kentucky Archaeology Potter,E.W., and B.M.Boland A. HANCOCK.Jeffrey Cliff Petroglyphs.HARRISON. 1992 Guidelinesfor Evaluatingand RegisteringCemeteries 15Hr4. HART. Salts Cave.HENDERSON.15He580, and BurialPlaces. National RegisterBulletin No. 41. National 15He635, BluffCity Shell Mound,Jackson-JamesFarm, Park Service,Washington, D.C. James Giles ShellMound. HICKMAN. BurchamSite. Seifert,DJ., B. Little,B.L. Savage, and J.H. Sprinkle,Jr. HOPKINS.15Hk8, 15Hk46-47, 15Hk79. TACKSON. 1995 DefiningBoundaries for NationalRegister Properties, BrushyRidge Petroglyphs, Daugherty Bear Track Petro­ withAppendix Definition of NationalRegister Boundaries for glyphs,15Ja160, William Gay Petroglyph.JEFFERSON. ArcheologicalProperties. National RegisterBulletin No. 21. National Park Service,Washington, D.C. Second and MarkeyStreets Historic District.JESSAMINE. BethelAcademy Site, Fort Bramlett,Ephriam January House. JOHNSON. BlantonSite, Dameron Shelter,Sparks Shelter. NRHP-Listed ArchaeologicalSites in Kentucky LEE. BearTrack Petroglyphs,Big Sinking Creek Turtle Rock ADAIR 15Ad33, 15Ad36, 15Ad54.BOONE. Maplewood Petroglyphs,Cold Oak Shelter,Old Landing Petroglyphs, Site, ReevesMound, RogersSite. BOURBON. Buckner Perdue Petroglyphs,Pine Crest Shelter.LOGAN. Page Site. BOYD. Indian Mounds in Central Park of Ashland, Site,Watkins Site.LYON. Kelly'sSuwanee Furnace Office, Stone Serpent Mound. BRACKEN. Snag Creek Site,Turtle Whalen Site. MADISON.15Ma24, 15Ma25,Bogie Circle, Creek Site. BRECKINRIDGE. Holt Bottom Archaeologi­ CornelisonMound, Coy Site Complex,Noland Mound, cal District,Mattingly Petroglyphs, North Fork Rough River RobbinsMound. MARSHALL.15Ml109. MASON. Fox Petroglyph,Tar SpringsPetroglyphs. BULLITT. Ashworth Farm Site, GillespieSite, Van Meter Site.MCCRACKEN. RockshelterSite. BUTLER Annis